The City of East Providence now offers residents, business owners and other visitors, 24-hour online assistance through ConnectEP, the city's latest technology product designed to offer quick and convenient assistance access along with all sorts of valuable information in a convenient IPhone app. The app can be used to report a variety issues to the city such as graffiti, potholes, garbage pickups, and other issues and questions, and receive status updates as residents and business owner's assistance requests are handled by the city. The app also provides information about public meetings, city news that may be of interest to residents, links to the city's various social media applications and much more. This app is designed to complement the city's existing webpage and other social media platforms and allows residents easy access through their IPhone. A full menu of options in a simple, easy to navigate format is designed to create a more convenient environment for residents to interact with the city. The app is free and available for download from the ITunes website. Technological innovation and connectivity is becoming an increasingly important part of people's everyday lives and this represents the city's latest effort to improve better outreach to the public and expand information accessibility to the residents and businesses of East Providence.
The city is eager to assist anyone looking to establish a new business or to anyone who may be seeking to expand their existing business. Business owners, developers and other parties who are interested in learning more about our economic development programs and initiatives in East Providence are urged to contact me at 401-435-7531 and to visit the city's website at www.eastprovidence.com or the city's Waterfront District website at www.eastprovidencewaterfront.com for more information on economic activities in our city.

James Moran is the economic planner for East Providence, R.I.